At least 140 workers were admitted to a hospital in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam after a suspected gas leakage at Porus Laboratories in Atchutapuram district. According to reports, several women workers fell unconscious as visuals showed them in a bus and being taken to a medical facility. Preliminary information stated that workers of the Brandix Company were admitted to a hospital owing to gas leakage from Porus Laboratories.
Stating that the leakage was not fatal, Anakapalle SP Gowthami Sali informed that 4 of these workers fell unconscious on the spot, adding that health of all workers is stable now.
The affected women complained of vomiting, headache and burning sensation in eyes.
Police said that all the affected employees were shifted to hospital and they are out of danger. Anakapalli Superintendent of Police Gautami Sali said that the gas is not fatal.
"There was a small leak in the scrubber region of Porus company, which led to ammonia gas leakage in the adjacent company, Brandix Apparel India. The staff present inside the Seeds Apparel India's hall complained of vomiting sensation and hence were shifted to the nearby hospitals," she said.
All the staff members have been evacuated and the affected employees were shifted to two private hospitals in Achutapuram and NTR hospital in Anakapalle. There were 1,800 people working in the company.
The company suspended the work soon after the incident took place and sent all employees home. Meanwhile, AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who currently in Delhi, also enquired about the incident and directed officials to provide best treatment to the affected. The CM has also ordered a probe into the incident.